AITA for refusing to sign a waiver allowing my neighbor’s pool company to tear up part of my yard?

My neighbors wanted access to my yard for their pool construction, but the waiver was vague, rushed, and risky — and now they’re furious I won’t sign it.

Last Thursday, my neighbors came to my wife asking us to sign a “Use of Yard” waiver so their contractors could move excavators and bobcats through our property to reach their backyard. Their yard doesn’t have enough clearance, so they needed about 10 feet of access — which meant roughly 4 feet into our yard. The waiver they presented promised to repair the grass afterward, but it had typos, no notarization, and was extremely vague about what “repairs” meant. Underneath the exact area they wanted to use are our irrigation lines and buried internet cables. Despite that, they wanted a 48-hour turnaround because they were leaving for Florida.

I wasn’t trying to be difficult — but signing a sloppy waiver so they can run heavy machinery over my sprinkler system felt like asking for trouble.

On Friday, I followed up with the pool company. Their project manager told me outright they actually needed 10–12 feet of access and that “there’s a good chance the ground will be totally torn up.” Not exactly reassuring. The next day — which happened to be my wife’s 30th birthday — the neighbor showed up demanding an answer. I calmly told him I didn’t feel comfortable signing the current waiver due to the errors, lack of clarity, and lack of protection for us. He took it personally, stormed out, and complained about losing money. Today the PM came back, trying to smooth things over, but then claimed there was an electrical easement 1.5 ft into my yard that would allow them to call for access. I checked my plat and deed. No such easement exists in that area. That made me even more skeptical of the whole operation. After thinking it through, I realized I simply don’t want to be responsible for repairing torn-up irrigation lines, soil damage, or a contractor arguing about what “returning the yard to original condition” means.

"I really don’t want my yard torn up — and at minimum the waiver needed to be completely rewritten."

Multiple friends and colleagues told me the same thing: don’t sign unless they meet extreme conditions, and even then it’s a gamble. In the end, I decided the risk to my property wasn’t worth it. A pool is their choice — not my obligation.

"At the end of the day, I don’t want to be dealing with repairing my yard and irrigation because of someone else’s project."

So I told them no. And now the neighbors are upset and the contractors seem irritated, but I just don’t feel comfortable gambling my property — or my money — for someone else’s luxury addition.

🏠 The Aftermath

The neighbors are frustrated and acting like I’m blocking their dream pool out of spite, but realistically I’m protecting my own property. My yard has underground utilities, expensive systems, and no guarantee those would be safely handled. The pool company’s contradicting statements didn’t help their case either.

No one offered insurance coverage, no certified agreement, no notarized document, and no clear plan for repairs. They wanted fast access with high risk and zero accountability.

If they lose money, that’s between them and their contractor — not on me for refusing a half-baked waiver.

"Their project shouldn’t become my problem just because my yard is convenient."

I don’t enjoy disappointing neighbors, but I’m not sacrificing my yard, time, and peace of mind for their timeline. They’ll have to find another solution.

💭 Emotional Reflection

Being a good neighbor doesn’t mean risking thousands of dollars in property damage. This wasn’t a request to borrow a ladder — it was a request to let heavy machinery drive through your yard with minimal protection for you.

You didn’t say no out of spite or selfishness. You said no because the waiver was sloppy, the contractors contradicted themselves, and the potential problems far outweighed the benefits.

People often underestimate how complicated “we’ll fix it” becomes once damage is done — especially with underground utilities and contractor disputes. Setting boundaries isn’t rude. It’s responsible.

Here’s how the community might see it:

“If they want a pool, they can solve access without destroying someone else’s property.”

“Contractors saying ‘we’ll fix it’ means nothing without insurance and notarized agreements.”

“You weren’t blocking them — you were protecting yourself from a nightmare scenario.”

Most people would say you made the right call, prioritizing your property and peace over a rushed, risky request.

🌱 Final Thoughts

You weren’t wrong to decline. Your yard, irrigation, and utilities are your responsibility — not collateral for your neighbor’s construction project. If they want access, they need proper agreements, insurance, and accountability, not shortcuts and pressure.

Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is say “no” firmly and clearly. Their emergency doesn’t have to become your disaster.

What do you think?
Would you risk letting heavy machinery tear across your yard for a neighbor’s pool project? Share your thoughts below 👇